Toe-weight



(NoModeL) L. E. CAMPBELL.

TOE WEIGHT No. 520,352. Patented May 22, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTE E. CAMPBELL, OF ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

TOE-WEIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,352, dated May 22,1894.

Application filed March 9,1894- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LU'IE E. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Arkansas City, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas,have invented a new and useful Toe-Weight for Horseshoes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement, whereby the toe of a horse isweighted, and his movements consequently assisted; and the principalfeature of the invention lies in an improved arrangement of a dove-tailsecuring plate, whereby the toe-weight operates to secure itself inposition.

In the accompanying drawings:--Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofa horses hoof supplied with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the toe-weight; Fig. 3 a perspective view showing the devicedetached from the hoof; Fig. 4 a cross section taken through the frontextremity of the shoe; Fig. 5 a detail perspective of the plate forsecuring the weight in place; Fig. 6 a similar View of the front of theshoe with the attachments removed; Fig. 7 a cross section taken throughthe end of the weight.

The reference numeral 1 indicates the shoe which may be of anyconstruction, and which is formed with the tapering dove-tail groove 2in its front extremity. This groove, 2, is of a depth equal to aboutone-half the thickness of the shoe, and it is wider at the inner edge ofthe shoe; tapering gradually as it extends forwardly until its width isreduced about onesixth. In this groove the plate 3 is arranged, and theplate is formed with downwardly and outwardly sloping edges 4, whichconform to the slant of the sides of the groove 2, while the platetapers in conformity with the shape of said groove. Thus, it will beseen that the plate can be inserted into its groove only from the innerside of the shoe, and the length of the plate is equal to the width ofthe shoe. Formed integral with the front end of the plate 3 is a stoutprojection or stud 5, which is practically a'continuation of the plate,and which is provided for the support of the toeweight 6. The toe-weight 6 consists of a block of metal provided with the approximatelyvertical front face 7 and upwardly and rearwardly slanting face 8. Thislatter face 8 is adapted to lie flush with the horses hoof, and isshaped in conformity therewith.

Serial No. 503,025. (No model.)

Formed in the lower side of the toe-weight 6, is the longitudinallyextending groove 9, which is of such a size that it will snugly receivethe stud 5 of the plate 3, and it is for the reception of this stud thatthe groove is provided. The stud 5 is of such a length that its end willlie flush with the front face of the weight 6, and owing to the groove 9the lower edge of the weight will be brought below the upper face of theshoe.

10 indicates a bolt or screw, which passes from the upper face of theweight down and into the stud 5, whereby the plate 3 and weight aresecurely connected to each other. Thus it will be seen that the weight 6is securely fastened to the plate 3, and that the weight prevents theremoval of the plate, since the lower end of theweight engages the frontof the shoe and operates to prevent its rearward movement. In additionto this, the rear face of the weight is always in engagement with thehorses hoof, and operates to assist in the retaining action. As for theforward movement of the plate, it will be'seen that this is impossible,because of the dove tail form which it assumes, and as this is soobvious from the drawings no further description of it is thoughtnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A horseshoe having agroove formed in its upper front face, the groove being graduallyreduced in width from the inner to the outer edge of the shoe, acorrespondingly shaped plate arranged in the groove and having a studformed on its forward end, the stud projecting beyond the front edge ofthe shoe, and a toe-weight secured to the stud and having its lower edgein engagement with the front of the shoe, whereby the plate is preventedfrom forward movement by its tapering shape and from rearward movementby the engagement of the shoe and weight, and whereby the weight is heldin place, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LUTE E. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

STANTON L. GILGIS, G. F. GILLILAND.

